HQ003425BOTA1 ManTech.pdf

BROAD OTHER TRANSACTION ANNOUNCEMENT (BOTA)

HQ003425BOTA1

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Manufacturing Technology Program

Issued by:

Washington Headquarters Services

Acquisition Directorate Enterprise Research and Engineering Division

Rapid Prototype and Acquisition Branch

Table of Contents

I. OVERVIEW INFORMATION

II. OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

B. Exchange Opportunities

C. General Award Information

III. PROCESS

A. Eligibility

B. Capability Focus Areas Announcement(s)

IV. SUBMISSIONS INSTRUCTIONS AND EVALUATION

A. White Paper and Presentation

V. EVALUATION CRITERIA

A. Non-Funded IEA: Submission Selection Criteria and Evaluation

B. OT: Submission Selection Criteria and Evaluation

C. Notice

VI. ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Submittal Guidance

Attachment 2 – Concept Quad Chart Template

I. OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Issuing Acquisition Agency: Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) Announcement Title: OUSD(R&E) Seeks Advanced Manufacturing, Prototypes and Materials

(AMPAM)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement Announcement Number: HQ003425BOTA1 Deadlines: Submissions in response to this announcement are accepted until it expires. Submissions in response to Capability Focus Areas (CFA) calls will establish separate deadlines.

Anticipated Awards: Multiple awards Anticipated Award Types:

o Non-funded Information Exchange Agreement (IEA) for the purposes of exchanging controlled and sensitive technical information up to a Top Secret (TS), Facility Clearance Level (FCL) and Special Access Programs (SAP);

o Other Transaction (OT) agreement; or o FAR-based procurement contract.

Effective dates: BOTA will remain in effect for 3 years until 2 October 2027 Issuing Agency Contact*: Stephanie P. Koessel, Contracting and Agreements Officer Technical Point of Contact*: Mr. Aaron Sasson, aaron.sasson@pm2strategies.com Concise description of the opportunity:

The OUSD(R&E) Manufacturing Technology program (ManTech) is seeking companies with new manufacturing processes and emerging technology at mid or high readiness levels for both commercial solutions and DoD-developed technology. The goal is to incorporate advanced manufacturing (e.g., new manufacturing processes and emerging technology) from the supply chain into the Department of Defense’s industrial base.

Technologies and prototypes of interest are:

• New Prototype Based on industry Independent Research & Development (IR&D) (requires cost share)

• New Prototype or Process Based on DOD Lab Intellectual Property (IP)

• New Product Based on ManTech with dual-use potential (requires cost share)

• New Manufacturing Process prototype (Defense Industrial Base (DIB))

• Pilot facility for prototyping Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MII) process or material

• Organic Industrial Base (OIB) Modernization Support

ManTech seeks to leverage commercial and not for profit companies to assess Advanced Technologies.

Several examples may include but are not limited to:

• Advanced Electronics and Optics

• Photonic supply chain and photonic integrated circuits

• Print in place and flexible electronics, integrated circuits, and sensors.

• Advanced Materials and Composites

• Emerging Alloys, ceramics, and composites

• Bio-manufacturing of medical related material

• Bio-manufacturing of materials or products in the supply chain

• Performance fibers, smart fibers, textiles, weaves, and soft goods.

• Advanced and Emerging Manufacturing Processes

• Additive Manufacturing

• Robotics and automated systems

• AI automation and inspection

• Cybersecurity and Networking on the Manufacturing floor

• Digital support for Industry 4.0

• Advanced Energetics Manufacturing

• Reducing operator exposure to hazardous processes

• New processes for material manufacturing

To facilitate this technology transfer, ManTech plans to assess technology through prototype and pilot manufacturing facilities. The goal of this work is to prove if these advanced manufacturing technologies meet government requirements and standards.

*Reference BOTA number HQ003425BOTA1 in all correspondence. The issuing agency contact is for general BOTA questions. All technical questions should be addressed to the Technical Point of Contact.

II. OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

The DoD Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program furthers national security objectives through the development and application of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes. Section 4841 of Title 10, USC, provides that the DoD ManTech Program will further national security objectives through the development and application of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes that:

reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of defense weapon systems; and reduce manufacturing and repair cycle times across the life cycles of such systems.

The DoD ManTech Program serves as an important mechanism for technology transition by:

identifying, developing, and maturing new or improved manufacturing and repair processes;

providing affordable technologies to acquisition program managers; and bridging the gap between discovery and implementation of new capabilities for the warfighter.

DoD ManTech is composed of the Military Service and DoD Agency (or "Component") investment programs operated out of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The OSD ManTech Office is responsible for administering the DoD ManTech Program by providing central guidance and direction to the Component ManTech Programs. Along with providing oversight to DoD ManTech, the OSD ManTech Office also manages two investment portfolios:

the Manufacturing Science & Technology Program (OSD MSTP) and DoD Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (DoD MIIs). The vision of the program is a responsive world-class manufacturing capability to affordably and rapidly meet Warfighter needs throughout the defense system life cycle.

The 2022 DoD ManTech Program Strategic Plan focuses on four thrust areas guided by nine goals for the next five years. The DoD ManTech enterprise focuses on delivering high-priority solutions across the portfolio of manufacturing technology investments to meet defense manufacturing needs:

Thrust Area 1: Advance Manufacturing Technology Thrust Area 2: Strengthen Joint Planning and Coordination Thrust Area 3: Expand Outreach and Communication Thrust Area 4: Educate and Develop Manufacturing Workforce

This BOTA will focus on developing prototype solutions for the first two thrust areas:

Thrust Area 1: Advance Manufacturing Technology

Goal 1.1: Identify and prioritize manufacturing technology or capability gaps to meet Service and Agency missions.

Goal 1.2: Advance the state of manufacturing maturity and enhance production and sustainment.

Thrust Area 2: Strengthen Joint Planning and Coordination

Goal 2.1: Define national needs and technology imperatives.

Goal 2.2: Identify and prioritize multi-Service or -Agency DoD manufacturing gaps via Joint

Manufacturing Planning Initiatives.

Goal 2.3: Develop tailored management and investment approaches.

B. Exchange Opportunities

The Government seeks collaboration with companies who have prototype and pilot manufacturing technologies with the potential for integration into the defense industrial base. This includes sharing information related to performance data, scenarios, models, classified threat data, analyses/studies, and pilot manufacturing facility access, where possible. The Government will periodically announce CFAs with detailed descriptions to focus submissions. Interested parties are invited to submit, either or both, a 5-page white paper and a 4-page PDF presentation to describe their project or concept (submittal guidance and template are posted on sam.gov website). Multiple submissions may be accepted for distinct projects or initiatives under the same CFA. It is the intent of the Government to post new CFAs as amendments to the sam.gov. Multiple CFAs are anticipated throughout the period of performance of the BOTA.

For companies with projects of relevance and merit, the Government, at its sole discretion, may:

a. Put in place non-funded IEAs for the purpose of conducting collaborative information/technical exchanges with Companies conducting relevant projects or initiatives.

b. Execute OTs in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4021 and 4022, to further Research and/or Prototypes, or follow-on production efforts [contingent on Government interest and availability of funds].

c. Enter a procurement contract in accordance with applicable FAR regulations.

The intended outcome is to help foster increased collaboration and partnership between Government and Industry to identify, develop, and mature new or improved manufacturing and repair processes and bridge the gap between discovery and implementation of new capabilities for the warfighter.

C. General Award Information

Multiple awards are anticipated. The amount of resources made available under this BOTA will depend on the quality of submissions received and the availability of funds.

The Government reserves the right to the following:

o Select for proposal request and negotiation some, all, one, or none of the white papers or presentations received in response to this BOTA.

o Accept proposals in their entirety or select only portions for award.

o Conduct discussions and/or negotiations at its discretion.

o Fund awards in phases with options for continued work, both priced and unpriced.

o Request any additional documents it deems necessary once it makes the award instrument or contract type determination.

o Apply publication or other restrictions, as necessary, if it determines that the research resulting from the proposed effort will present a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems or manufacturing technologies that are unique and critical to defense. Any award resulting from such a determination will include a requirement for R&E permission before publishing any information or results on the program.

o Remove respondents from award consideration should the parties fail to reach agreement on award terms, conditions, and/or cost/price within a reasonable time as determined by the Government, or for failure of the respondent to timely provide requested information.

o Facilitate teaming arrangements among submissions offering complimentary capabilities to achieve desired effect. Companies are also welcome to present their own teaming arrangements in their solution briefs.

If a prototype OT agreement is made, in accordance with 10 U.S.C 4022(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project has been successfully completed, in part or in whole, any competitive prototype OT awarded under this BOTA may result in the award of a follow-on production transaction or contract without the use of competitive procedures. Follow-on production, if considered, will constitute a separate negotiation.

Awardees under an OT will be required to submit invoices for payment electronically via Wide Area Workflow (WAWF), access through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment at https://piee.eb.mil, unless an exception applies. Registration in WAWF is required prior to any award under this BOTA.

The BOTA will remain open for 1 year and any non-funded IEA resulting from it will expire 2 years from the date of execution, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. Amendments containing CFA calls for submission will be posted to sam.gov with a forty-five (45) calendar day deadline for submittal. Any resulting OTAs [research or prototype] and/or FAR contracts will specify periods of performance (PoP) in the agreement/contract.

As needed, a DD Form 254 will accompany an IEA to facilitate technical and data exchanges. While a DD- 254 may be issued to solicitors in support of an established non-funded Information Exchange Agreement to have classified engagements, the Government will NOT sponsor facility or personnel clearances under this solicitation.

III. PROCESS

A. Eligibility

1. Eligible Sources This is a full and open BOTA. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs may submit a white paper or presentation for consideration by OUSD(R&E) ManTech.

Companies without a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code code will be required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM), if selected. The Government recommends that prospective companies begin this process as early as possible.

2. Conflicts of Interest Respondents are required to identify and disclose all facts relevant to potential organizational conflicts of interests (OCI) involving the respondent’s organization and any proposed team member with each white paper and presentation. The disclosure must include the respondents, and as applicable, any proposed team member’s OCI mitigation plan. The OCI mitigation plan must include a description of the actions the respondent has taken, or intends to take, to prevent the existence of conflicting roles that might bias the respondent’s judgment and to prevent an unfair competitive advantage.

The Government will evaluate OCI mitigation plans to avoid, neutralize, or mitigate potential OCI issues prior to award and determine whether it is in the Government’s interest to grant a waiver.

The Government will only evaluate OCI mitigation plans for submissions that are deemed selectable under the BOTA evaluation criteria and funding availability. The Government may require respondents to provide additional information to assist the Government in evaluating the OCI mitigation plan. If the Government determines that a respondent failed to fully disclose an OCI, failed to provide additional information requested by the Government to assist in evaluating the OCI mitigation plan, or that the conflict cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Government may reject the submission, and withdraw it from consideration for award.

B. Capability Focus Areas Announcement(s)

The Government will periodically identify and post CFA announcements as amendments to this BOTA at sam.gov to solicit new submissions. Information will also be advertised on the DoD ManTech website (https://www.dodmantech.mil/) and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-of-defense-manufacturing-technology-program. Unsolicited submissions may or may not be reviewed at the sole discretion of the Government.

1. Posting The Government will post calls and instructions via amendments to this BOTA. Interested parties are encouraged to check www.sam.gov for updates and amendments.

2. Deliverables No defined deliverables are established for any non-funded IEA. These IEAs will establish unique one-on-one technical exchange meetings between the Government and selected respondent, as desired and agreed to by both parties. No funding will be provided for these IEAs. For any OT agreements established, deliverables will be defined in each specific agreement.

3. Timeframe The BOTA will remain open for 3 years and any non-funded IEA resulting from it will expire 2 years from the date of execution, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. Amendments containing CFA calls for submission will be posted to sam.gov with a forty-five (45) calendar day deadline for submittal. Any resulting OTAs [research or prototype] and/or FAR contracts will specify the PoP in the agreement/contract.

IV. SUBMISSIONS INSTRUCTIONS AND EVALUATION

Competitions under this BOTA will generally consist of a submission phase, a review and a selection phase.

During the final selection phase, the Government will determine based on a set of evaluation criteria (defined in Section V) whether or not to award an IEA. After an IEA has been successfully awarded, the Government has the right to pursue an OT. Multiple awards may result from a call. The Government may select none, all, part of, or a combination of submissions.

The Government, at its discretion, may include additional steps, such as rolling down selects or oral presentations/pitches, as it deems reasonable, appropriate, and fair. When the Government anticipates an OT award, the Government may further deviate from the general selection process.

The Government will not pay for costs associated with the submission or additional steps such as a pitch unless otherwise stipulated.

Respondents may withdraw a submission at any time prior to award by emailing the Awarding Agency Contact and Technical Point of Contact listed in Section I. Withdrawals are effective upon receipt by the Awarding Agency and Technical Points of Contact.

Submissions will not be returned. An electronic copy of each submission received will be retained at R&E and all other non-required copies destroyed. A certification of destruction may be requested, provided the formal request is received by R&E within 5 days after notification that a proposal was not selected. The Awarding Agency may retain a copy of all submissions.

R&E will accept both unclassified and classified submissions. Requirements for submitting unclassified and classified submissions is listed below.

Respondents are responsible for clearly identifying proprietary information. Submissions containing proprietary information must have the cover page and each page containing such information clearly marked. Do not mark as “confidential.”

A. White Paper and Presentation

White papers and presentations shall only address those CFAs solicited in the relevant call for submissions.

Responses to the BOTA shall address relevant focus areas defined in this solicitation. Those desiring to submit under multiple technical areas must submit separate white papers and/or presentations. There is no limit to how many white papers and/or presentations an entity may submit against the BOTA’s technical areas and/or CFA amendments through its effective date. Nonconforming submissions may be rejected without further review.

All submissions must be in the final state, meaning that no further editing will be possible. If a submission is not finalized, the submission will not be deemed acceptable and will not be reviewed. Companies must submit all parts of their submission package using the same method; submissions cannot be sent in part by one method and in part by another method nor should duplicate submissions be sent using multiple methods.

Please refer to the attachments for guidance on format, content, and evaluation criteria for submissions.

Submission suspense dates will be 45 calendar days after the date a CFA amendment is published.

Questions about the general BOTA will be accepted throughout the duration of the period of performance.

However, questions for each CFA should be submitted no later than 20 calendars days after the CFA amendment is published. Government will publish answers 30 calendar days after the CFA amendment.

Questions should be emailed to aaron.sasson@pm2strategies.com.

Submissions received after the suspense dates and times will not be considered.

1. Unclassified Submission Unclassified white papers sent in response to this BOTA shall be submitted via email to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.rpab@mail.mil and aaron.sasson@pm2strategies.com.

All electronic submissions must be uploaded as zip archives (i.e., files with a .zip or .zipx extension). The final zip archive should be no greater than 10 MB in size. Only one zip archive will be accepted per submission – subsequent submissions will overwrite previous submissions, and submissions not uploaded as zip archives will be rejected by R&E.

For unclassified proposals containing CUI, respondents will ensure personnel and information systems processing CUI security requirements are in place.

If an unclassified submission contains CUI or the suspicion of such, as defined by Executive Order 13556 and 32 CFR Part 2002, the information must be appropriately and conspicuously marked CUI in accordance with DoDI 5200.48.

2. Classified Submissions When a proposal includes a classified portion, and when able according to security guidelines, respondents should send a notification email to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.rpab@mail.mil to request instructions for submittal.

Proposals submitted in response to this BOTA may generate or involve access to classified information. Classified submissions shall be transmitted and marked in accordance with the security classification guidance via a Security Classification Guide (SCG) and/or DD Form 254, “DoD Contract Security Classification Specification,” may be provided as an attachment to the BOTA or may be provided at a later date.

If a submission contains Classified National Security Information or the suspicion of such, as defined by Executive Order 13526, the information must be appropriately and conspicuously marked with the proposed classification level and declassification date. Submissions requiring the Government to make a final classification determination shall be marked as follows:

“CLASSIFICATION DETERMINATION PENDING. Protect as though classified (insert the recommended classification level, e.g., Top Secret, Secret or Confidential)”

NOTE: Classified submissions must indicate the classification level of not only the submitted materials, but also the classification level of the anticipated award.

Submissions containing both classified information and CUI must be appropriately and conspicuously marked with the proposed classification level as well as ensuring CUI is marked in accordance with DoDI 5200.48.

Respondents submitting classified information must have or be able to obtain prior to the IEA or OT award, cognizant security agency approved facilities, information systems, and appropriately cleared/eligible personnel to perform at the classification level proposed. All respondent personnel performing Information Assurance (IA)/Cybersecurity related duties on classified Information Systems shall meet the requirements set forth in DoD Directive 8140 and DoD Manual 8140.03.

For 8140 inquiries, please contact the DoD CIO Workforce Innovation Directorate at osd.mc-alex.dod.mbx.cyberspace-workforce-tag@mail.mil.

Security classification guidance and guidance on the DD Form 254 will be provided in the event that a respondent intends to submit a classified white paper or classified proposal.

The Government will NOT sponsor facility or personnel clearances under this solicitation.

V. EVALUATION CRITERIA

It is R&E’s policy to ensure impartial, equitable, comprehensive evaluations based on the evaluation criteria listed herein, and to select the source (or sources) whose proposal meets the Government’s technical, policy, and programmatic goals. Submissions will not be evaluated against each other.

Submissions that fail to comply with all requirements detailed in this BOTA may be deemed non-conforming and removed from consideration.

A. Non-Funded IEA: Submission Selection Criteria and Evaluation

The submissions will be evaluated by R&E technical subject matter experts (SME) and deemed as either an “Accept” or “Do Not Accept”. In reviewing a CFA submission for this selection determination, the SMEs will consider (1) whether the submission sufficiently addresses the CFA; (2) whether the submission demonstrates sufficient scientific or technical merit for further review; and (3) whether the submission aligns with R&E’s mission and priorities.

Companies with submissions deemed relevant and of merit may be notified with information to meet one-on-one with Government engineers to enable the company to provide more detailed information about their project and for Government engineers to discuss potential application of the project to the CFA or other focus areas. These meetings are envisioned to be technical and engineering focused discussions.

After thorough review and examination, the Government will make a determination and notify the company about whether it will establish a non-funded Information Exchange Agreement. Where appropriate, the Government will make introductions to other DoD stakeholders to help accelerate prototyping and experimentation. Initial responses will be sent by email to the point of contact listed on the submission cover sheet and WHS or R&E will make every effort to return responses within 45-calendar days. A favorable response to a submission is not an assurance that a non-funded Information Exchange Agreement or OT will be issued.

B. OT: Submission Selection Criteria and Evaluation

Proposals received for consideration for an OT award will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

o The proposed technical approach is innovative, feasible, achievable, and complete.

o The proposed approach identifies mechanisms to identify, track and manage technical risk.

o The proposed approach addresses the Capability Areas of Interest, and its potential contribution and relevance is aligned to R&E’s objectives and mission.

Cost realism and reasonableness shall be considered to the extent appropriate. Price/cost reasonableness determinations will be conducted for OTs. The Government may obtain and consider, among other data, commercial pricing data, market data, parametric data, or cost information.

At its discretion, R&E may request additional information to inform its selection decision.

Based on a successful proposal, the Government may engage in negotiations with the respondent. A successful proposal may result in an OT, at the discretion of the Government.

C. Notice

After completion of the evaluation, respondents will be notified via email of the results as stated in Section V.A. The Government will notify the respondent via email to the respondent’s technical and/or administrative contact. Debriefings for evaluations of submissions will not be provided.

All white papers or presentations submitted shall be considered valid for 12 months after submission unless explicitly stated otherwise by the Respondent.

VI. ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Submittal Guidance Attachment 2 – Concept Quad Chart Template